The Palestinian Economy and the Second Intifada

This report provides data on the cumulative effects on the Palestinian economy and society of Israeli restrictions imposed and damage inflicted during the al-Aqsa intifada through January 2003. The author argues that Israel is deliberately impoverishing the Palestinian population and that the United States, by failing to curb Israel, is complicit. The author also gives useful statistics showing what the Palestinian losses would be in U.S. terms.

Salem Ajluni, formerly chief economist for the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, now works as a private consultant. This paper is based on public presentations made to the Commonwealth Club of California in San Jose and to the World Affairs Council in San Francisco, California, in July 2002.